Psycho-babble
The term psycho-babble disparagingly refers to grandiloquent but allegedly empty jargon with a psychological tinge. As with any self-respecting jargon, practitioners find the usages normal and useful shorthand, referring to valid concepts; thus they might reject the label of "psycho-babblers". But the vagueness inherent in many psychological concepts also permits the use of "real" terminology in ways that may seem inappropriate. Some cynics suspect that this may be because some of the concepts of psychology are themselves so vague as to be meaningless, and that psycho-babble is only frowned upon because it represents use by non-practitioners.Users of psychological jargon may argue that the term has been created as a defence against the cynic's own deep, repressed fears and traumas. By attacking and undermining the whole language of personal exploration, the cynic attempts to ensure that the time when he or she may have to acknowledge these parts of their psyches is pushed into the distant future.
The term dates from at least the 1960s, the era of origin of popular widespread analysis and counselling groups.
Cynics detect psycho-babble in the phraseology of New Agers, self-help groups, personal development coaching and LGATs.
Examples of concepts, words and phrases possibly usable in psycho-babbling:
- access to
- breakthrough
- change
- closure
- communication
- conversation
- creativity
- empowerment
- enrolment
- facilitation
- expressing feelings
- getting it
- holistic
- integrity
- leadership
- in one's life
- openness
- new paradigm
- having passion
- on the planet
- possibility
- projects
- quality
- racket
- really / reality
- meaningful relationship
- responsibility
- self-actualization
- spirituality
- stressed out
- taking a stand
- team spirit
- transformation
- visioning
- well-being
- win-win
- it (just) works
